Luke Fowler is an artist and filmmaker, based in Glasgow. In 2016, he documented his artistic residency in Bamburg, Germany. Fowler created the double images by using a half camera frame, exposing two images in one frame. After developing the first roll, he was amazed by the resulting diptychs. This was the start of his new project, resulting in his book Two-Frame Films. The book addresses the fine line between photography and film.
In the book Fowler discusses how ‘the blink of any eye’ has a different meaning to us humans than it does with the camera. When we blink we are blind to the world in that instant. However, a camera takes in everything in that one blink when we press the button. Since we are blind in the instant when the photographic image captures everything, these images are a false representation of life. By printing two images side by side, he aims to emphasise the momentary nature of photography.
Sometimes it’s clear that two images are made in quick succession. Other pairs seem unrelated, possibly having been taken some time apart and in different locations. In other cases, although the two images seem unrelated in terms of subject, location and viewpoint, a poetic link creates a connection. This could be related to a particular quality of light, a compositional link, a colour or related atmosphere.
Quote
The way in which he combines the images in Two-Frame Films shows that Fowler is first and foremost a filmmaker, creating a narrative of, and an interaction between, multiple images. These new narratives created by the diptychs, question photography’s reliability as a way of documenting ‘real’ life in a single, still frame. He shows us how we can create a story, or tell our own story, through combining the chance fragments as exposed by photographs. - From the GUP website
Image Analysis
This image consists of two pictures with a black frame that surrounds them. The left image has been taken from a high level since it looks down upon the mountainous vast land. The right image has been taken inside a house. You can see that the front door has been broken since a part of the glass is missing which reveals a vivid red car on the other side. There is a connection between these two images. The right image represents being trapped indoors and seeking to go out on a road trip adventure since the broken glass reveals the desire to be outside. The left image depicts the outside world from above and shows the vast area of mountains which emphasises the amount of land there is to see and explore. Luke Fowler’s work explores the relationship between two juxtaposed images to affect the ways in which a viewer engages with the work. The diptych of the two still images enables us to explore the visual dialogue between them.
I decided to do another photo shoot where I capture pictures every hour, throughout the day, in the same location. I took pictures from a balcony in a villa adjacent to the beach. From this location I was able to obtain a clear view overlooking the mountains located behind the village of Mojacar. Before I began the photo shoot, I had to choose a position on the balcony so I knew where I would need take pictures from every hour. This allowed me to maintain the same view of the landscape throughout the photo shoot.
For my second photo-shoot for the Journeys and Pathways project, I will be focusing on the idea of representing the concept of being on the wrong path or journey, emphasizing the contrast between the subject and the location they are found in (showing that they are on the wrong path in a more literal sense).
In order to follow the theme of a subject being on the wrong path, I will be taking landscape images of different landscapes and environmental situations, and will be editing images of subjects (representing different professions and lifestyles through clothing) into these images, as if they have been torn from their original path and stuck in an out of context, contextually inaccurate environment. I will be using a photo-montage style of editing in order to achieve this, and the final images will look similar to the below image;
Image of subject: https://www.istockphoto.com/th/photos/one-man-only
My first set of images includes all of the images that will be used as the subjects of the final images. These images are taken before the editing process, which will remove the background of the subjects, and will insert them into the correct environment image:
This photo-shoot will involve multiple locations and multiple representations of subject careers and backgrounds. For my first set of images, I compiled images to be used as the backgrounds. The following contact sheet contains all background images:
My second photo-shoot includes more heavy editing, as it involves merging 2 separate images so that the subject looks to be making their way through the scene. This photo-shoot is based around the fact that the subject is on the incorrect path, and has been placed in a scene that doesn’t match the context of what the subject represents (an office worker).
In order to do this, I used Photoshop to cut the subject from the background, in order to separate the body so that it can be edited onto the background:
After the subject was separated from the original background (using the quick selection tool) I used the eraser tool to tidy the boarders:
I then changed the colour gradient of the subject to greyscale, as I felt that by doing so, I could emphasise the separation and contrast between the background and the subject, and I would also be able to show the contrast between nature (the background) and the mundane reality of working life (represented by the subject), as the use of black and white coloring shows the negative effects that a repetitive modern job (such as working in an office) can have on an individual:
I then edited the subject onto the final background, which I chose from a selection of images I took of settings that did not seem to match the attire of the subject (e.g forests, beaches):
Final edits included either adding paper tears around the subject (as If they have been torn from their original journey/path and placed in a different one) or the addition of a “hole” through the scene, as if the subject is falling through the wrong scene while on their journey.
here is an example in which I used a torn paper effect, as if the subject has been removed from his original path and placed on a random/incorrect one.
This was the process for all of the images, until I produced all of the final images.
During the editing process for my final images, I made use of Photoshop in order to edit the saturation and colour of the images (which was the main point of focus). I did this in order to match the style of image with the original images, in order to create more points to compare the 2 images. This often requires raising the saturation and lowering the brightness, to give the effect that the new image was old.
In order to make the new image more similar to the original (and therefore provide more continuity) I edited the newer image so that the jumper of the subject was a similar colour to the jumper of the same subject in the original image. I did this by using the quick select tool to highlight the jumper, before using the saturation tool to change the colour from blue to green. This gave a point of similarity between the 2 images, and allows for the viewer to focus more on the differences in the subjects face, posture etc rather than the colors (which hold less meaning).
I also edited the colour of the tie in order to match the rest of the image. As the tie was a smaller area with a less simple shape, I used the lasso tool to do this, and the saturation option to change the saturation to a greener shade. This allowed for continuity to be carried throughout the subjects whole outfit.
The original image is the subject at an earlier stage in their life, and so to match the tones of the original image with the newer image, I lowered the brightness and heightened the contrast in order to change the overall tones of the image.
Above is the original image on the right, and the edited image on the left. The left image has been cropped, and the background expanded to create a square image, and the brightness and contrast have been edited so that they better match the newer image in terms of tone and lighting.
The final image is a side by side comparison of the 2 images, showing how the subject has developed through her life, without drawing attention away from the important aspects of the image (such as the facial structure changes, the hair growth, and other aspects that have changed that are not simply the clothing):
For the second image, I changed the saturation and contrast of the newer image to allow for the tones to match slightly more with the original image:
Image before editing
The original image I took involved the subject facing the wrong way, and so in Photoshop I simply flipped the image to resolve this, and have the subject facing in the same general direction as the original subject. In addition to this, I raised the saturation and contrast substantially to give the image a more orange overtone, which I feel both draws more attention to the image, and gives it a more vintage feel (showing similarity between the original and new image so that attention is not drawn just to the difference in shades and colors).
Image after editing
This image will be displayed with the archival image below, showing the contrast between the 2 images, and the difference in the subject, showing how she has changed over the years between the 2 images.
I have decided on the following 4 images for my finals for this photo-shoot:
I have decided on these images as I believe that they are the clearest and best produced, and the position of the subject matches with the background, and the size and shape of the subject looks as natural as possible alongside the background.
I have chosen the below images as my finals for this photo-shoot, as I feel they best represent the initial brief, as they represent 2 different times in the same subjects life, showing the journey that they subject has been on between the 2 images, in 2 still-frames, leaving the viewer to wonder how the subject came to look/be the way they are today.
Like my previous photo shoot, I captured images throughout the day, however this time I decided to take pictures of the tide so the viewer can see the extreme change from low to high tide in Jersey. Jersey may be a small island, but it can boast some of the biggest tides in the world. When it recedes, the immense body of water seems to melt into the horizon, only to surge back onto shore with alarming speeds.
I planned this photo shoot by going on the website gov.je to know when there will be a high or low tide on Sunday the 24th of March. I found out that the tides will be high around 8:40 am and low at 3:20pm. This was a perfect day to take pictures of the tide changing since the difference from high to low would occur during daylight. I decided that I would take pictures every hour from 10am to 4pm. Taking pictures of the tide every hour meant that the viewer can see the gradual change from high to low tide.
I took pictures of the tide at Gorey beach since it’s only a 5 minute walk from my house. I made sure that the camera angle didn’t change drastically by having a fixed spot where I would take pictures from every hour. My spot was a bench on a hill overlooking the coast. Here I would be able to get some good shots of the tides.
For my edits with the Bunkers I wanted to produce final images which looked like my artist research who inspired this photoshoot. However, when I started experimenting I found it hard to find a way to make my photograph look like Jonathon Andrew’s work as his lit up bunker was taken at nighttime with artificial lights lighting up the bunker, but I knew I could make an image look like Paul Virilio as his work was simple to edit. Due to the simplicity of Virilio edits, I decided to conducted further experimentation and research into potential ideas in order to showcase my photoshop skills and make more interesting images.
The image above is my final image which has the closest links to my artist Paul Virilio. The way I did this edit was I started off by levelling my image to ensure the textures of the walls where clearly visible, I then adjusted the curves in order to produce maximum effect. This was then followed by me lowering the saturation of the image, which created the image above. The image has strong structure which clearly presents the formal elements of texture, shape and space, which helps to showcase how the bunkers have been isolated and showcase the importance of the structure during the second world war.
Further Experimentation Ideas
Conceal Reveal
Building Float
Double Exposure
Idris Khan Inspired
I decided to attempt an Idris Khan inspired edit. In order to get a better understanding of Khan’s work I have decided to create another case study which will allow me to see the requirements of his work, which I can then implement into my work.
Idris Khan:
Idris Khan is a British based photographer/artist who intends to showcase history, art and music through densely layered imagery. Khan is a Muslim , which is one of his interests within photography, people say that his work is “compressed memories”, which creates a more powerful meaning towards his photography. He can be considered a successful photographer as his work has been displayed in multiple exhibitions around the globe, from Canada to Switzerland. One of Khan’s most successful moments was being asked to create a new wall of drawing for an exhibition for the British Museum in London
The image above is my favourite image that Khan has produced. Initially my eyes are drawn to the subject of the image which is the shed located in the centre of the frame. The more I look at the subject of the image the more detail I notice from the overlapping of the subject. The technique of overlapping has produced quite an abstract looking image but helps to present a narrative for the time of history he is trying to present. Technically speaking the overlapping may have been created on a photo manipulation software by duplicating, moving and Turing down the opacity of a lawyer, or it may have been created using a slow shutter speed. Having the slow shutter speed he could have moved his camera slightly which would have created this effect, however the image would be much more blurred than it is. In my opinion I think he has done this on a photo manipulation software which means a normal shutter speed was used. Alongside this I believe the ISO will have been raised as there is an intended blur and noise being created which has added to the texture which is being presented by the subject of the image. The depth of field being used seems to be narrow as the subject is mainly in focus with the background and foreground being slightly out of focus. The aperture Khan used may be slightly lower as the image seems to be naturally darker, so having this setting lower will make sense. In terms of the white balance I believe the image was taken using a normal outdoor white balance. The lighting is quite cold due to the grey and black which creates a eerie mood and helps to emphasis the historical aspect of the image. To achieve this I believe he took the image with natural lighting, but when the clouds covered the sun creating the coldness towards the image. The subject itself is the main focus point and presents the formal elements of Texture, through the overlapping, space, as the subject is located in the centre of the Fram creating a sense of space, shape, as the overlapping creates an overall abstract looking building. The image is presented in black and white which allows the image to show clear tonal contrast, presents the historical factors and adds to the overall eerie mood which is being created. Contextually, Khan wanted to showcase this building as an impressionistic drawing or blurred film, how things where when he was young. This was his artistic aim throughout this series. Conceptually, Khan wanted to present buildings but make them seem strangely imposing and alien like making viewers rethink about what the world is. To apply this concept into my work I will use a similar effect to make people rethink and understand the importance the bunkers had within the second world war in Jersey, thus helping to provide context to those who may not know why the bunkers actually exist.
Below are my attempts at producing super imposed photographs like Khan:
In order to create these images I started off by levelling and adjusting the curves of the image to create effect. I then desaturated my image, and duplicated the layer. Once the layer was duplicated I turned down the opacity of the layer and moved it slightly, repeating the duplication process slightly until I was happy with my final outcomes.
I believe that this is my strongest outcome, as I have successfully managed to copy the technique Khan has used, and have created an abstract photograph that has made viewers question what they are looking at and why it looks the way it does. The edit shows clear camera skill and editing technique and show my ability to make strong links with an artist.With this attempt I did not duplicate the layer as many times to create the effect, making it more simplistic. Although, it looks good I do not believe that it is as strong as the image above as the overall image is not that abstract or visually stimulating. Needless to say this image still looks good and makes us rethink the use of the Bunkers during the WW2 in Jersey.In my final attempt I went back to duplicating the layer several times but each time the opacity was turned down a little bit more, which makes the effect harder to see but when focused on the subject you are able to see it. This attempt is successful and I am happy with the way it looks.
Comparison:
Khan Work
My Work
I believe that my outcomes are very similar to Khan’s imagery showing my ability to take inspiration from an artist an applying it to my work. When editing my images I took the same aim as Khan which allowed me to produce such accurate responses. To compare we both have used the layering technique which makes a visually stimulating and abstract photograph which showcase a historical event. Moreover, they are both in black and white clearly presenting the formal elements of texture, space and shape. Both elements seem to have intended noise which means that my editing technique has made my image seem more like Khan’s creating another similarity. One difference is that my duplications are more spread out, as I much prefer the look when it is more spread out as it helps to guide my viewers eyes around the image. Another difference is that Khan’s image has more structure with the lines which allows the effect to stand out where as mine is much softer which makes a weaker effect. Both images have presented a cold atmosphere due to the lighting and editing being combined creating an overall eerie tone towards the two images. Khan’s image is much more darker where as my image presents a more natural look which overall does not make that much of a difference. I believe that my image has more historical context towards it creating a more powerful meaning compared to Khan’s. As shown both images are much like one another but both showcase our own artistic style, creating successful abstract images.
Action Plan:
To further this experimentation I have decided to print some of these outcomes on acetate, to which I will hold up to the camera lens and recapture some of these bunkers. Moreover, I will use them to use a back projector which will project my images onto abstract walls creating further experimentation and cool outcomes. In addition, I have printed on of the images into 8 different segments of A3 paper, I intend to stick these onto card creating a massive bunker, take this big image to the location and capture the bunker itself with the big image showing the big impact it has. This will be my further experimentation towards this area of research.
I liked the ideas presented by the Boyle family when exploring different elements of the ‘journeys and pathways’ subject. The images produced tell a story of the photographer going on a journey, instead of having a model or exploring the conceptual ideas of a journey. The roads and pavements show not only how people travel (either walking or driving on the road), but the literal journey of the photographer. There is a strange reality to the images that make them seem relatable, as they are simple subjects that you see everyday, but never take into account the detail or abstract nature of the lines and symbols painted on the road, or the cracks in the pavement that everyone walks over without a second thought. There is a history in each photo, whether its the leaves in the grate of a drain, or the fading yellow lines parallel to the pavement, each picture shows a neglected slab of ground that nobody else thought to pay any attention.
